Collapsible portable cart



May 31, 1949- s. G. ZUCKERMAN COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CART 2 She ets-Sheet1 Filed March 18, 1947 ATTORNEY May 31, 1949. s. e. ZUCKERMAN 2,471,553

COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CART Filed March 18, 1947 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CART Samuel GeorgeZuckerman, Brooklyn, N. Y., as-

signor of one-eighth to Albert B. Breslow, New

York, N. Y.

Application March 18, 1947, Serial No. 735,490

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a hand-cart device which may be convenientlycollapsed into a suitcase or valise of conventional proportions andappearance, and which may be readily opened and extended to provide anoperative cart, complete with four wheels and a handle bar frame.

The improved portable cart of this invention may be of the type whichprovides, when opened, a baby carriage or go-cart; or it may be of thetype used for delivery or goods conveyance, i. e., in which no seat isprovided, so that the device unfolds into an open delivery wagon havingsimply four wheels and a handle-bar frame. The go-cart embodiment of myinvention is shown, for convenience, in the accompanying drawings, butit will be understood that the invention is applicable to portable orcollapsible delivery wagons and to other conveyances.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedportable and collapsible handcart, as described above. Allied objectsare to provide a portable hand-cart which may be readily and quicklycollapsed into suitcase form for easy transportation and carrying, andreadily and quickly extended, from its collapsed condition, into go-cartform to provide a neat, sturdy and easily propelled hand-cartone whichmay be economically produced, which will have no separable partssuch asa separate lidbut in which all parts are operatively united orassociated.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a portable hand-cartconstruction, a separate, completely enclosed compartment, when inclosed, suitcase condition, which will be completely water-proof andwhich will provide a convenient place for safely storing a mattress,blanket, clothes, food and other baby accessories.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a portablego-cart device, a seating arrangement which is readily placed in loweredposition for reception in to the suitcase when the device is closed, andwhich is readily elevated or brought to raised operative position.

It is also within the contemplation of my invent-ion to provide a trunkor suitcase with a normally concealed wheeled structure adapted to bereadily converted to an undercarriage or wheeled support, whereby whenthe trunk or suitcase is heavily loaded it can be readily andconveniently moved.

For the attainment of the foregoing and such other objects ofinventionas may appear or be pointed out herein, I have shown apreferred emimproved cart in closed suitcase condition, as in Figure 1,taken on the line 44 of that figure;

Figure 5 is a detail of the novel lock arrangement, with the compositelid and wheel base member shown in full lines in the closed suitcasecondition of the device (the composite member functioning as a lid) andshown in dot-and-dash lines in the open hand-cart condition (the com-'posite member functioning as the wheel base);

Figure 6 is a side view of the device in open hand-cart condition (lowerportions of thewheels being broken off), and showing the seat in raised,operative position;

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the open device of Figure 6, takenon line 'l---'! of that figure; Figure 8 is a side view similar toFigure 6 but on a smaller scale, showing a slightly modifiedform of seatarrangement;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 8, taken on theline 99 of that figure; and

Figure 10 is a semi-diagrammatic side view of the novel collapsible cartand showing, in dotand-dash lines, the composite member in differentpositions, to explain the transformation of the device between itsclosed suitcase and its open hand-cart conditions.

The improved portable hand-cart device comprises two major parts, viz.,a composite suitcase and wagon member or body l0 and a composite lid andwheel base member or lid-base 20. Both the composite body l0 and thecomposite lidbase 28 are hollow members of oblong shape, each havingfour sides,,and a floor plate designated, respectively, II and 2!. Thetwo longer sides or side walls of members It] and 20 are designated,respectively, l2 and 22, while the end walls are designated l3, l4, and23, 24, respectively.

The two members are associated or operatively secured together by a pairof double-pivotedhinges, designated generally 30, and disposed so thatwhen in closed suitcase condition of the device, as in Figure 1, theedges of the sides I2, I3, I4 of the composite suitcase and wagon bodyIll 3 and of the sides 22, 23, 24 of the composite lid and wheel base20, abut one another to form a closed suitcase, shown in Figure 1.

The four wheels 40 of the device are rotatively secured to the interiorside of floor plate 2| of the composite lid-base member 20, as bestshown in Figure 2. For this purpose, two narrow, preferably resilient,metal strips 4|, 41 aresecured to the interior surface of floor plate2|, as by rivets 42. Both ends of each strip 4|, 4| terminate inU-shaped brackets 43, at the distal ends of which the wheels 40 arerotativelyqmourrted;

as by spindles 44.

The aforesaid double-jointed; hin es .30; 31]".

comprise a long central link 3| and end link 32; 33; end link 32 ispivotally articulated to the central link at 34, while the otherend-link: 33 End links 32, 32 f theris articulated at 35. pair ofdouble-jointed hinges 30, 30 are secured to the end wall l3 of thecomposite suitcasewagon body III, while the other end links 33, 33

are secured tothe end wall 23 of'the composite lid-wheel base; member20." The lengthsof the respectivelinks of the hinges and" their positionof securementon the end walls I3; 23 are such that the-opposing edgesof-the foursides of the two members abutin theclosed condition of Inthis the structure, as shown in Figure 1'. positionoij-lid-base itswheels 4ll-are'snugly received and encased-withinthesuitcaseformed bybody member Hi and lid memberZU; A- suitable griporhandle l5; (Fig. 1),may be attached to one of the longer side walls I 2 'of the body memberI0.

To open and extendthe device Irom-itsclosed,

suitcase condition (Fig. l), to itsoperative, handcart condition (Fig.3), the composite lid.- and wheelbase member 20, shown in'iull lines inFigure 10, which position is designated-A, is

turned substantially: 180 on pivot- 35 0f the:

hinges 30, -to the position B, as indicated by the curved arrow ab;- Itis then turned-substantially 180- on'pivot 34 to the position 0', asindicated by the arrow b-c. In actual practice,

the-composite lid-base member 20 turns about both pivots 34, 35concomitantly, thedevice beingopened (and closed) in-a singlemovement'orsweep; The'novel arrangement is hencesuch as to enable an upper portion,such as-:a-lid, of avalise-like device to-berotatably swung through anarc of-360- into underlyingengagement-with the bottom of the device,whereby the upper:

portion, containing wheels, may serveas an undercarriage;

The two members IB,= 20 may besecured together in either. the: closed,suitcase= condition (Fig. 1) or open, hand-cart conditionl (Figs. 3; and6), by a single fasteningimeans designated generally Fasteningmeans 45comprises a plate-4fisecured to the endwall 24 of'thecompositelid-wheelbase member 20, to which distal end of which protrudes tongues 48 lock=49. When the --novel-- device is, opened 1 and extended into hand-cartposition,- represented by the dot-and-dash showingof end wall 24, thelatter is now-in. underlying. position relative to: the compositesuitcaseandwagon member ,v 1,;-

which is represented by-its end-wall; l 4 .-:(this position in Figure 5corresponds to that shown in Figure 6). In this hand-cart condition, bar48 of the fastening means extends upwardly, and its distal tongue 48 isreceived in lock 49; the parts and dimensions are such that the distancee (closed suitcase condition) equals the distance J (open hand-cartcondition).

The hand-cart handle-bar; frame,- designated generally 36," comprises a'U-shape frame having a pair of lateral bars 31, 31, which are pivotallyarticulated at their ends to hinge plates IT, I! secured-interiorly toend wall 13 of the composite suitcase and wagon member Ill. The lengthof the; frame 36" is suchthat, when turned to its non-operativeposition, as in Figure 2, its distal handle-bar portion 38 will bedisposed close to therotherpendzwall M of the member H]. A strip ofresilient material l8 secured to wall I4 and bent as best shown inFigure 3, serves to releasably hold the handle-bar frame innon-operative position, its handle-bar 38-snapping past the strip 18,asshown-in Figure 2.

It will be observed, best from Figure 4; that the-=-two wheels 40,4llflof each of the two wheel strips 42; 42', are disposed, in the:closed suitcasecondition of: the device, between the pair oflateralbars- 31, 31 of the h'andle-bar frame and the respectivesidewalls 12,1 l2' ofthe composite suitcase and wagon-member. Hi; Thisprovides an ample spacedesigna-tedf S- -Within whichmaybe stored .ablanket, clothes: and other baby accessories. Thisgstorage space isconverted into a storage compartment'whichmay be completely enclosed;and-quickly opened, bya pair of sheets 25, 25.0fteXtile. fabricor'other suitable pliable material; Sheets 25; 25fwextendralongasubstantial portionsofzthenlength'ofthe composite suitpartmentcondition,as, in Figures 4 and 2,. theirlong; distaledges will be incloseadjacency. These'edges are provided with zipper elements 29, 29,so'that-they may Joe-(united to-form:

a laterally closed compartment by manipulation of zipper slider 28.-

It'should be: noted,,.best from Figure 2, that. theadevice may be openedand extendedintohand-cart condition-by moving the composite.

lid' and .wheel member from closed .position (Figure. 1), tooperativeuposition, see Figure 2-- without disturbing the-closed storagecompart-- ment. S. But if the handleebar frame 36 isrequiredto, beerecteduinto; operative position (Fig. 3), the. compartment must firstbeopened.

This -maybe convenientlydone by pulling 'the' zipper. slider 28 to.theright (Fig. 2) to open the compartment.

The .material .of whichcompartment sheets 25, 25 will fit'tightlyover'the bars 31,-31'when" their-ends are-brought together by the"zipper" closure.- The sheets 25,- 25"may be provided with hooks 21 (seeFig;4), which -snap'over the re-' spective bars 31, 31.

The baby seat, designated generally 9, comprises lateral sides 8; 8; a-'back 1 *anda bottom" 6.- Seat :9 :has .=an"-operative A position,-shown in Figure 6 (full lines) and Figure 7, in which it extends abovethe top of the composite suitcase and Wagon member [0, to provide legroom between its bottom 6 and the floor H of the wagon member Ill. Itmay be readily moved to a position within the member 10, shown indot-anddash lines in Figure 6, when the device is to be converted toclosed suitcase condition. For this purpose, seat 9 is supported by apair of parallel links 5, 5 at each side, one end of the links beingpivotally secured at 5a to the exterior of the respective lateral sides8, 8 of the seat, their other ends 5b being pivotally secured interiorlyto the respective side walls 12, E2 of the composite suitcase and wagonmember It. The lengths of parallel links 5, 5 and their pivots 5a, 5bare such that the seat 9 may be readily turned from operative position(full lines, Fig. 6) to non-operative position (dot-and-dash lines, Fig.6). Suitable means (not shown) are provided for securing or impositivelylocking the seat in operative position.

Instead of hingedly securing the seat 9 to the composite suitcase andwagon member H), as in Figures 6 and 7, the seat 9 may be made separablefrom member H], as in Figures 8 and 9. In this case, a pair of angleirons 4, 4 are secured interiorly to the side walls l2, l2 of member l0near their distal edges. In the operative position of seat 9, its floor6 rests on the horizontal legs of angle irons 4, 4, as clearly shown inFigure 9. As in the case of the hinged seat of Figures 6 and '7, means(not shown) are provided to secure the seat in operative position. Theseat is placed in non-operative position by sliding it under the pair ofangle bars, as shown by its dotand-dash position in Figure 8.

When the novel device is to be used as a delivery wagon or the like, asin Figure 3, the seat 9 and compartment sheets 25, 25, etc., may beomitted. And when it is to be used as a trunk or the like, the said seatand sheets are similarly omitted, and the wheels made considerablysmaller than illustrated.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by wayof example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations andmodifications may be made therein which will still be comprised withinits spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is notlimited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except in sofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a compositesuitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotalmember constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having afloor, sides and end walls, a pair of double-joint hinges each having amain link and end links, one of the end links of the hinges beingsecured to an end wall of the body member and the other end links beingsecured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member whereby thetwo members may be turned about said hinges to a closed suitcasecondition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an openhand-cart condition with said floor of the pivotal member in underlyingrelation to the floor of the other member, a pair of strips securedinteriorly to the floor of the pivotal member and disposed close to thesides thereof, four wheels rotatively mounted on said strips, ahandle-bar frame having lateral bars pivotally secured on one end wallof the body member whereby it is movable between an inner and outerposition,

its distal handle-bar portion being disposed close to the other end wallwhen the frame is in the inner position, a pair of sheets of pliablematerial secured along the floor of the body member to extend insubstantially underlying relation to said lateral bars when the frame isin said inner position, a plurality of spaced hooks secured to saidsheets and adapted to be hooked over said lateral bars, and a closureprovided along the distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosedcompartment, said wheels being received, when the device is in saidclosed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of saidcompartment and the respective sides of the body member, and fasteningmeans comprising a lock plate, a bar and plate to which said bar ispivotally secured, said bar having a tongue at its distal end, said lockplate being secured to a wall of the body member and said hinge platebeing secured to the corresponding wall of the other member, whereby insaid closed suitcase condition of the device, said bar tongue isreceived in said lock plate and when turned substantially in said openhand-cart condition is received in the lock plate to lock the parts insaid condition.

2. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a compositesuitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotalmember constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having afloor, sides and end walls, a double-joint hinge structure having a mainlink and end links, one of the end links belng secured to an end wall ofthe body member and the other being secured to the corresponding endwall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned aboutsaid hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotalmember over the body member, or to an open handcart condition with saidfloor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of theother member, a pair of strips secured interiorly to the floor of thepivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof, four wheelsrotatively mounted on said strips, a seat having a back, sides and abottom adapted to be received at one end of said body member, and a pairof parallel links at each side of said seat, one end of the links beingpivotally articulated to said side of the seat with the other ends ofthe links pivotally articulated to said side of the member, whereby theseat may be turned to operative position above the member and tonon-operative position within the member.

3. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a compositesuitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotalmember constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having afloor, sides and end walls, a double-joint hinge structure having a mainlink and end links, one of the end links being secured to an end wall ofthe body member and the other being secured to the corresponding endwall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned aboutsaid hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotalmember over the body member, or to an Open hand-cart condition with saidfloor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of theother member, four wheels rotatively mounted interiorly of the bodymember and close to the sides thereof, a seat having a back, sides and abottom, adapted to be received at one end of said body member, and apair of strips disposed interiorly at said end of the member parallel toone another and disposed near the distal edges :of saidside :Qf themember, whereby said seat may be rested on the strips in operativeposition above the member. or disposed within said member with thedistal edge of its said sides in underlying relation to the strips.

4. ,A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a compositesuitcase and wagon member having. a floor, sides and end walls, apivotal member constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having-,a floor, sides and endwalls, a double-Joint hi-ngestructure having amain 'l'ink and'end links, one ofthe end links being secured to amendwall of the body member and the other being secured to the correspondingc end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turnedabout said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with thepivotal member over the body member, or to an open'handecart conditionwith said floor of the pivotal member "in underlying relation to thefloor of the otherlmember, a pair of strips secured interiorly .to the.floor of the pivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof,four wheels rotatively mounted 'on'said .strips, a handle-bar framehaving lateral bars pivotally secured on one endwa'll ofthe body memberwhereby it is movable between an inner and outer position, its distalhandle-bar portion being disposed close to the other end wall when theframe is in the inner position, a pair of .sheets of pliable materialsecured alongthe floor of the body member to extend insubstantialunderlying relation to said lateral bars-when the frame is in said innerposition, a plurality of spacedhooks secured to said sheets and-adaptedto be hooked over said lateral bars, and a closure provided along thedistal edges of'said sheets to form an enclosed compartment, said wheelsbeing, received, when the device is in said closed suitcase condition,in the spaces between the sides of said'compartment and the respectivesides of the body member, and fastening means forsecuring said mem' bersin said suitcase condition and in said hand cart condition.

5. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting acompositesuitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotalmember constituting a composite lid and Wheel base member having afloor, sides and end walls, adouble-joint hinge structure having a mainlink and end links, one of the end links being secured to anend wall ofthe body member and the other being secured to the corresponding endwall of the pivotal member whereby the two members maybe turned aboutsaid hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotalmember over the body member, or to an open hand-cart condition with saidfloor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of theother member; a pair of strips secured interiorly to the floor of .thepivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof, four wheelsrotatively mounted on said strips, a handle-bar frame having lateralbars pivotally secured on one end wall of the body member whereby it ismovable between an inner and outer position, its distal handle-barportion being disposed close to the other end wall when the frame is inthe inner position, a pair of sheets of pliable material secured alongthe'floor of the body member to extend in substantial underlyingrelation to said lateral bars when the frame is in said inner position,a pluralityofspaced hooks secured to said sheets and adapted ltObBhooked over said lateral-bars,- and a closure provided along the.

distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosed:

compartment, said wheels being received, when. the device is in saidclosed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of saidcompartment and the respective sides of the body member.

6. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a compositesuitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a,pivotal member constituting a composite lid and: wheel base memberhaving a floor, sides and, end walls, a double-joint hinge structurehaving a main link and end links, one of the end links being secured toan end wall of the body member and the other being secured to thecorresponding,

end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turnedabout said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with thepivotal member over the body member, or to an open hand-cart conditionwith said floor of the pivotal member in underlying relationto the floorof the other member, a pair of strips secured interiorly of the floor ofthe pivotal mem,-

ber and disposed close to the sides thereof, four. wheels rotativelymounted on said strips, a pair,

of sheets of pliable material secured along the floor of the body memberto extend in substantial underlying relation to said lateral bars whenthe frame is in said inner position, a plurality of spaced hooks securedto said sheets and.

adapted to be hooked over said lateral bars, and a closure providedalong the distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosed compartment,saidl wheels being received, when the device is in said,

closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of saidcompartment and the respective sides of the body member, and fasteningmeans for securing said members in said suitcase condition and in saidhand-cart condition.

7. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a compositesuitcase and wagon member having a floor and lateral walls, a pivotalmember constituting a composite lid and Wheel base member andproportioned to fit upon the body member, hinges connecting the bodymember and pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned aboutsaid hinges to a closedv ings interiorly adjacent and extendingoutwardlybeyond said side walls of the pivotal member, said body memberbeing proportioned completely to accommodate therein said wheels whenthe body and pivotal members are in closed suitcase relation, the planesof said Wheels being at all times parallel to said adjacent side wallsof thepivotal members and parallel to the corresponding side walls ofthe body member when the cart is in said closed suitcase condition.

8. A collapsible cart according to claim 7, further provided with ahandle-bar frame having lateral bars pivotally secured on one end wallof the body member whereby it is movable between an inner and outerpostion, a pair of sheets of pliable material secured along the floor ofthe body member to extend in substantial underlying relation to saidlateral bars when the frame is in said inner position, fasteners securedto said sheets and adapted to be attached to said lateraL bars, and aclosure provided along the distal edges of said sheets to form anenclosed compartment, said wheels being received, when the device is insaid closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of saidcompartment and the respective sides of the body member.

9. A collapsible cart according to claim '7, further provided with acompartment attached to and disposed over the floor of said body member,two opposite lateral sides of the compartment being spaced from thecorresponding sides of the body member, said Wheels being received, whenthe cart is in said closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between thesaid lateral sides of the compartment and the respective sides of thebody member.

10. A collapsible cart according to claim 7, said hinges comprising adouble-joint hinge structure having a main link and end links, one ofthe end links being secured to an end wall of the body member and theother being secured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Powell July 11, 1911 Number

